Best Orthopedic Pillows for Back Pain
| Rank | Products | Highlights |
| #1 | 
Luna |
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| #2 | 
Vertteo |
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| #3 | 
Cushy Form |
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| #4 | 
BeautifulLife |
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| #5 | 
ComfiLife |
|
Even from quite a fragile age, a person can suffer from back pain. Sadly, back pain can be related to a number of health problems, or it could just be caused by an incorrect sleeping position. Whatever the case, back pain doesn’t just distract people from their daily activities, but could literally keep them awake at night as well.
Back Pain Pillow Materials
As you already know, there are lots of different materials that make the filling of a pillow. We tried to explain how each of them could be suitable for people who have back pains, and here’s what you should know as well:
- Down pillows, which are filled with duck and geese plumage, have an adjustableloft and are highly breathable, but are also quite expensive and will flatten out in time. If you’re suffering from back pain, these pillows might not be a good choice, as they are very soft and prone to losing their loft.
- Memory foam pillows are made from either solid blocks of foam or shredded foam, which takes the shape of the body when coming in contact with its heat. If they are made with shredded foam, their loft is very adjustable, although even solid memory foam pillow may now have a removable layer for adjusting the height. There are considered to be some of the best pillows for back pain, because they are very comforting, can alleviate a lot of pressure, and are a very common fabric throughout some of the best orthopedic back pain pillows.
- Polyester pillows are quite similar to memory foam ones, in a sense that they are filled with shredded polyfoam plus polyester fibers to fluff up the pillow. These pillows are rather inexpensive and can have their loft adjusted, but they sleep got and they don’t last very long. They can be suitable for back pain, but they are not as good as memory foam pillows. They are common amongst people who are on a budget but still want a pillow that gives them that memory foam feel.
- Some pillows are made with latex, which is a natural substance coming from rubber trees. Latex is comfortable to sleep on, but also one of the most durable materials out there. However, it’s also more expensive, heavier, and doesn’t offer sleepers the possibility to adjust the loft. If you can get past that, latex pillows offer really good support.
- Feather pillows, unlike down, are filled with the actual feathers of ducks and geese. They are lightweight and have a long lifespan, but they also cost more and lose their loft. Since they are firmer than down pillows, they are better suited for back pain.
Where to Place the Pillow
Gone are the days when pillows were used only to support the head. For people that experience back pain, here are some sleeping suggestions that might help:
- Sleeping on the stomach may be beneficial for back pains, especially if you place a pillow beneath your pelvis. Stomach sleeping isn’t generally recommended for back pains, but with a pelvic pillow, there won’t be any pressure on the back disks. For stomach sleeping, it might be best if you didn’t sleep with a pillow under your head (to prevent potential neck pain).
- Back sleepers might find comfort in resting with a pillow behind their knees. By laying on your back, place a pillow beneath the knees. This will force the spine to stay straight. It also takes out some of the pressure between your neck and hips. If you still feel stain on your lower back, consider placing a rolled towel there.
- For side sleepers, a pillow between the knees might just do the trick. The idea is to make sure that the part of your body between your shoulder and your hips comes in contact with the mattress. With a pillow between the knees, the pelvis and hips will stay aligned with the spine. If the side you’re sleeping on does not touch the mattress, consider placing a smaller pillow in between. This also applies to pregnant women.
You may want to read: Best Orthopedic Wedge Pillow Reviews
Top Orthopedic Pillows for Back Pains
When shopping for a pillow for back pain, it’s important to take into consideration a number of variables that sets these products apart from one another. In the following paragraphs, we wanted to show you the best back pain pillows that have interesting and useful features, for the best comfort of the buyer.
#1. LUNA
SPECS
- Dimensions: 10 x 8 inches
- Weight: 13.4 ounces
- Material: memory foam
- Cover: cotton
With a memory foam core, this is a pillow that can provide a lot of pain relief and natural comfort, making sure nothing is stopping you from getting a good’s night sleep. This CertiPUR-US certified pillow is constructed for those who need a hypoallergenic product and one that’s void of any chemicals that could pose a threat.
The cotton cover feels very soft to the touch and is also very breathable. This is a plus considering that memory is notorious for trapping heat (it’s probably the only reason why some people avoid buying a memory foam mattress).
| Pros | Cons |
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#2. Vertteo
SPECS
- Dimensions: 16.1 x 4.7 x 17.7 inches
- Weight: 1.65 pounds
- Material: memory foam
- Cover: faux fur and velboa
Best for chair use
Made with memory foam, this lumbar pillow is perfect for use with just any type of seat, whether it’s your office chair, your car seat, or your favorite recliner. It can help alleviate back pain, by supporting your lumbar region. The shape of this pillow helps align the upper and lower thoracic spine area.
The back of the pillow hosts an adjustable strap that has a secure slip, to make sure that the pillows always stays in place even as you move around. The outer cover is made with faux fur and velboa, and is hypoallergenic. Whenever needed, this velvet-like cover can be removed and washed in the machine.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Purchase This?
If you want an orthopedic back pillow that can be placed on your office chair, favorite recliner, or car seat, the Vertteo is an excellent choice in terms of usability, as well as price.
#3. Cushy Form
SPECS
- Dimensions: 24 x 21 x 8 inches
- Weight: 4.81 pounds
- Material: memory foam
- Cover: polyester
Best foot elevation pillow
As we’ve mentioned at the beginning of this article, it’s a good idea to sleep on your back and place a pillow beneath your knees, so that your elevated legs can keep the spine in a straight position. With the Cushy Form pillow, you can achieve that comfortable position, by resting your legs on contouring and comforting memory foam.
Even more, elevating your legs can also help improve blood circulation, which is particularly good for those that literally have cold feet, or have trouble sleeping because their feet hurt as soon as they lay in bed.
The pillow is also of great use for people who have to recover from surgery, as it promoted a correct posture by keeping the injured leg elevated.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Purchase This?
If you’re looking to solve your back pain problem by elevating your legs, this Cushy Form pillow is a great option, as it’s both comfortable and wide enough for both your legs to fit on top of it.
#4. BeautifulLife
SPECS
- Dimensions: 22 x 8 x 4.5 inches
- Weight: 6.4 ounces
- Material: memory foam
- Cover: cotton
Best for back sleeper
Looking for a bolster pillow to lift up your knees to minimize your back pain? The BeautifulLife is an item that does precisely that. While it’s advertised as being a lumbar pillow, it could be a bit too big for placing under your lower back area (although choosing the smallest version might help).
This firm bolster pillow is made with hypoallergenic foam, and the cover is made with organic cotton, which is a hit amongst eco-friendly bedroom item lovers. The cover is removable and can easily be washed in the machine.
The pillow itself is quite versatile in terms of positioning options. It can go under the knees to align the spine when you’re sleeping on your back, it can be comfortable leg spaces for side sleepers (preventing leg friction), it can be used as lumbar support when the upper side of the body is in a vertical position. It can also be placed under the neck to give you a more comfortable TV-watching position.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Purchase This?
Leg elevation is generally a good idea for back pain, but sometimes you just want a pillow that lifts your knees, without elevating other parts of your leg. This bolster pillow is the perfect choice and fit snugly under your knees, as long as you buy the right size for you.
#5. ComfiLife
SPECS
- Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.9 x 6.3 inches
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Material: memory foam
- Cover: polyester
Best for side sleeping
Taking care of back pain when your favorite sleeping position is on the side can be very tricky. Knee pillows are here to help people with such a problem. Thanks to their hourglass shape, these pillows can provide comfort, breathability, and alleviate some of that back pain in the process.
The pillow is meant to sever people that suffer from back, hip, and knee pain, pregnant women that are having a hard time finding a comfortable sleeping position, people with joint pressure problems, as well as those who suffer from sciatica pain.
The filling is made from high-density memory foam, although some people do complain about the pillow being quite squishy. The cover is made from polyester, and features a zipper for easy removal and wash.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who Should Purchase This?
If you’re suffering from back pain and like sleeping on the side, the ComfiLife pillow is a qualitative hourglass-shaped product that can take away some of that discomfort, while allowing you to still sleep in your favorite position.
You might be interested in: The Best Orthopedic Knee Pillow
Bottom Line
There are a lot of people that suffer from back pain, caused by a number of factors. But, whatever the reason, back pain is not to be ignored. Or, better said, it won’t let you ignore it. People that suffer from back pain have trouble staying focused on what they have to do throughout the day, but also have trouble sleeping at night.
Acute pain can prevent people from sleeping, and chronic pain only makes things way worse. Choosing a good pillow for back pain can really soothe this sensation of discomfort, by making the spine rest in a natural position. To choose the best pillow for your particular needs, you will have to do your homework, examine your favorite sleeping position, and then choose a model that can provide the best support and posture correction in that sleeping position.